Welcome to my geography curriculum web! This web is intended to guide second grade students through topics in geography and help them to apply their learned skills.
General Goals For Your Curriculum Web:
This curriculum web on geography was created by a second grade teacher who wanted to stray away from the textbook and worksheet method of learning about geography. The overall goal is to teach students about the features of the world around them in an engaging and meaningful way that is developmentally appropriate.
Description of Your Learners:
This curriculum web is geared toward second grade students, both male and female, age 7-8, who possess varying levels of academic abilities. Students run the gamut from being identified gifted, English language learners, and learning support. The second grade students are from varied socio-economic statuses, however the majority of students come from middle income suburban homes. This web meets the needs of all modalities of learners through visual, musical, tactile, and auditory means. Students using this curriculum web will have some basic knowledge of geographic terms. This curriculum web has the potential to be adapted for most elementary grades if needed.
Description of Your Subject Matter:
This curriculum web will teach second graders about geography. Students will be focusing on key terms like: continents, oceans, land forms, bodies of water, longitude and latitude, and cardinal directions. Students will learn about concepts like map making, map reading, and using the internet to find specific information. At the completion of this web, students will have a better understanding of the geographic world around them.
List of Pennsylvania Standards Aligned System of Standards:
7.1.3.A:Identify how basic geographic tools are used to organize and interpret information about people, places and environment.
7.1.3.B:Identify and locate places and regions as defined by physical and human features.
1.4.3.B: Write informational pieces using illustrations when relevant (e.g., descriptions, letters, reports, instructions).
1.5.3.F: Use grade appropriate conventions of language when writing and editing.
S3.A.3.2.1: Identify what models represent (e.g., simple maps showing mountains, valleys, lakes, and rivers; dioramas).
List of ISTE NETS Standards
Creativity and Innovation: Students demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes using technology.
Research and Information Fluency: Students apply digital tools to gather, evaluate and use information.
List of Learning Objectives:
1. The student will be able to identify key geographic terms.
2. The student will be able to keep a journal account of their adventures as an explorer of this new island.
3. The student will be able to design a map using key features in geography.
4. The student will be able to develop directions around their island using cardinal directions.
List of Prerequisites:
Learners will have access to internet ready computers.
Learners will know how to do the following basic computer activities:
a. Turn on a computer
b. Log in to the computer using their username and password
c. Open up a web browser
d. Hit the back and forward buttons while using a web browser
e. Be able to “x” out of a window
f. Learners must have prior knowledge on basic geography terms from first grade:
Continents
Oceans
Land Forms
Bodies of Water
Longitude and Latitude
Cardinal Directions
Learners must at least be on a middle first grade reading level.
Learners will be able to write a description paragraph.
Your Aim:
The aim of this geography curriculum web is to promote a better understanding among students of the geographic world around them.
Your Rationale:
Throughout this curriculum web, students will have the opportunity to discover different geographic features. As our world is becoming more reliant on electronic sources to provide us with directions, people seem to be becoming more robotic in how they travel from place to place. This web brings the thinking back into geography and allows students to become more cognizant of the world around them.
Materials:
1 computer per child
Wireless internet access Internet access with access to a web browser
1 set of headphones per child so that they are not distracted by neighboring computer sounds.
Built in microphones in each computer for the Travel Plan project and/or song
Software like Garage Band on each computer to record Travel Plan and/or song
Access to http://goanimate.com/ for their Animation project with a username and password (set up in advance by the teacher)
Storyboard graphic organizer for the Animation project
1 piece of foam board for each child for their map or model of their island
Various art supplies for their map or model
Rubrics for projects
Scrap paper for taking notes/ planning out rough drafts of projects
Sign out computer lab for 30 students for the duration of 2 weeks (10 school days).
Gather needed foam board and art materials that will be needed for all projects.
Send out parent notices to get volunteers with all clearances to come in to help students throughout this process. Three to four parents present per class period would be optimal for assistance with a class size of thirty.
Each class period is one hour in length.
Class 1: Brainstorm with students ideas about geography to elicit what they already know from first grade social studies. (Keep this list up for the duration of the project)
Introduce how to handle the Mac laptops and remind students of how to login to the network.
Have students access the online curriculum web and introduce the project.
If time allows, have them begin working through the websites from the resources page of the curriculum web.
Have students shut down computers and return them to the laptop cart to be plugged in and charged. (this will be done daily with adult supervision)
Class 2: Have students login and work through each group of geography websites and videos. After each grouping of websites, remind them to take the quiz on that information to check their understanding.
Class 3: Allow students to continue to work through websites, taking their quizzes along to way to check their comprehension of the skills. This will be the last day to work through the websites. (Extra time will be given for those struggling students)
Class 4: Have students begin work on map or model. Remind students to complete a draft of their island before moving on to using the foam board and art materials. Have them check with a parent or the teacher prior to moving on to the good copy.
Class 5: Final day to work on map/model. Remind students to put materials away neatly when they are finished using them. (Additional time will be given for struggling students)
Class 6: Today, the children will begin work on their song or animation. They will need to pick one or two other people to work on this project. Encourage students to choose partners wisely and that their best partner might not be their best friend. A best partner is someone who keeps them on track and helps with the project! Students will need to create a rough draft of their song or animation. Have scrap paper for the song or the storyboard handout for the animation ready to go.
Class 7: This is the final day for students to work on their songs or their animation. At this point encourage them to begin working on their good copies on Garage Band or on a Web 2.0 tool for the animation after their rough copy is checked. (Extra time will be given for struggling students.)
Class 8: Today students will begin planning their travel journal or scrapbook.
Class 9: Day 2 of working on their journal or scrapbook.
Class 10: Final day of working on their journal or scrapbook.
Class 11: Today, students will begin working on the travel plan for their island. Remind them to write a rough draft using cardinal directions and warning settlers of certain landforms as the travel around the island.
Class 12: Have students record their travel plan on Garage Band and upload their final product to our classroom website: http://www.eastpennsd.org/teacherpages/rshreck (extra time will be given for struggling students)
Class 13: Have students choose their favorite project to share with the class.
Hello Teachers!
Welcome to my geography curriculum web! This web is intended to guide second grade students through topics in geography and help them to apply their learned skills.
- General Goals For Your Curriculum Web:
This curriculum web on geography was created by a second grade teacher who wanted to stray away from the textbook and worksheet method of learning about geography. The overall goal is to teach students about the features of the world around them in an engaging and meaningful way that is developmentally appropriate.- Description of Your Learners:
This curriculum web is geared toward second grade students, both male and female, age 7-8, who possess varying levels of academic abilities. Students run the gamut from being identified gifted, English language learners, and learning support. The second grade students are from varied socio-economic statuses, however the majority of students come from middle income suburban homes. This web meets the needs of all modalities of learners through visual, musical, tactile, and auditory means. Students using this curriculum web will have some basic knowledge of geographic terms. This curriculum web has the potential to be adapted for most elementary grades if needed.- Description of Your Subject Matter:
This curriculum web will teach second graders about geography. Students will be focusing on key terms like: continents, oceans, land forms, bodies of water, longitude and latitude, and cardinal directions. Students will learn about concepts like map making, map reading, and using the internet to find specific information. At the completion of this web, students will have a better understanding of the geographic world around them.- Your Aim:
The aim of this geography curriculum web is to promote a better understanding among students of the geographic world around them.- Your Rationale:
Throughout this curriculum web, students will have the opportunity to discover different geographic features. As our world is becoming more reliant on electronic sources to provide us with directions, people seem to be becoming more robotic in how they travel from place to place. This web brings the thinking back into geography and allows students to become more cognizant of the world around them.Back to Geography